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Strengthen the Evidence for Maternal and Child Health Programs

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Evidence Tools
MCHbest. Childhood Vaccination with MMR, Flu, and HPV.

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Strategy. Client or Family Incentive Rewards

Approach. Provide incentive rewards to increase vaccination rates in children.

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Overview. Client or family incentive rewards are used to motivate people to get recommended vaccinations. Rewards may be given to clients or families in exchange for keeping an appointment, receiving a vaccination, returning for a vaccination series, or producing documentation of vaccination status. Rewards may or may not be monetary, and they are typically small (e.g., food vouchers, gift cards, lottery prizes, baby products).[1]

Evidence. Emerging Evidence. Strategies with this rating typically trend positive and have good potential to work...

Access the peer-reviewed evidence through the MCH Digital Library or related evidence source.

Potential Data Sources. Data to support this strategy can be accessed through:

  • Parents Attitudes About Childhood Vaccines (PAVC) Survey
  • Intervention satisfaction data
  • Family perception data on vaccine hesitancy

Outcome Components. This strategy has shown to have impact on the following outcomes (Read more about these categories):

  • Cost. This strategy helps to decrease the financial expenditure incurred by individuals, healthcare systems, and society in general for healthcare services.
  • Patient Experience of Care. This study improves individuals' perceptions, feelings, and satisfaction with the healthcare services they receive.
  • Utilization. This strategy improves the extent to which individuals and communities use available healthcare services.

Detailed Outcomes. For specific outcomes related to each study supporting this strategy, access the peer-reviewed evidence and read the Intervention Results for each study.

Intervention Type. Outreach (Read more about intervention types and levels as defined by the Public Health Intervention Wheel).

Intervention Level. Individual/Family-Focused

Examples from the Field. There are currently no ESMs that use this strategy. Search similar intervention components in the ESM database.

Sample ESMs. Here are sample ESMs to use as models for your own measures using the RBA framework (see The Role of Title V in Adapting Strategies).

Quadrant 1:
Measuring Quantity of Effort (“What/how much did we do?”)

  • Number of incentive programs aligned with evidence-based best practices for motivating health behaviors. (Measures adherence to quality standards)
  • Number of staff trained in communication about incentives and vaccinations. (Assesses delivery methodology)

Quadrant 2:
Measuring Quality of Effort (“How well did we do it?”)

  • Percent of incentive programs aligned with evidence-based best practices for motivating health behaviors. (Measures adherence to quality standards)
  • Percent of staff trained in communication about incentives and vaccinations. (Assesses delivery methodology)

Quadrant 3:
Measuring Quantity of Effect (“Is anyone better off?”)

  • Number of data collection points established to track long-term impact of incentive programs that are tracked regularly over the course of the year. (Shows commitment to evaluation)
  • Number of peer education initiatives developed to complement incentive programs that results in an increase of knowledge and/or skill. (Measures comprehensive approach)
  • Number of families transitioning from partial to full vaccination compliance through incentive programs. (Quantifies behavior change)
  • Number of community-wide health improvements correlated with increased vaccination rates. (Assesses broader health impact)

Quadrant 4:
Measuring Quality of Effect (“How are they better off?”)

  • Percent of data collection points established to track long-term impact of incentive programs that are tracked regularly over the course of the year. (Shows commitment to evaluation)
  • Percent of peer education initiatives developed to complement incentive programs that results in an increase of knowledge and/or skill. (Measures comprehensive approach)
  • Percent of families transitioning from partial to full vaccination compliance through incentive programs. (Quantifies behavior change)
  • Percent of community-wide health improvements correlated with increased vaccination rates. (Assesses broader health impact)

Note. When looking at your ESMs, SPMs, or other strategies:

  1. Move from measuring quantity to quality.
  2. Move from measuring effort to effect.
  3. Quadrant 1 strategies should be used sparingly, when no other data exists.
  4. The most effective measurement combines strategies in all levels, with most in Quadrants 2 and 4.

Learn More. Read how to create stronger ESMs and how to measure ESM impact more meaningfully through Results-Based Accountability.

References

[1] Jacob V, Chattopadhyay SK, Hopkins DP, Murphy-Morgan J, Pitan AA, Clymer JM, Community Preventive Services Task Force. Increasing coverage of appropriate vaccinations: a Community Guide systematic economic review. Am J Prev Med 2016;50(6):797–808.

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U02MC31613, MCH Advanced Education Policy, $3.5 M. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.